The foundation of how we shift our mindsets, behaviors, and practices in everyday life begins with the wellness dimension of social connection.  The social dimension encourages contributing to one’s environment and community. It emphasizes the interdependence between others and nature. As you travel a wellness path, you’ll become more aware of your importance in society as well as the impact you have on multiple environments. You’ll take an active part in improving our world by encouraging healthier living and initiating better communication with those around you. You’ll actively seek ways to preserve the beauty and balance of nature along the pathway as you discover the power to make willful choices to enhance personal relationships and important friendships, and build a better living space and community.

Social wellness follows these tenets:

  • It is better to contribute to the common welfare of our community than to think only of ourselves.
  • It is better to live in harmony with others and our environment than to live in conflict with them.

The research on our social life and other dimensions of wellness is readily available.  This research from December of 2022 is a perfect illustration of how individuals, communities, and organizations must break out of their siloed thinking, because it takes a lot more than just a focus on a single issue, no matter than issue, to resolve the problem.  Further, we cannot look at just the individual issue, but their surroundings.

Results revealed from the research indicates that Social Life outside work had significant positive effects on work ability in both, middle-aged and older adults. Physical Fitness had a significant effect on work ability only in middle-aged adult, and Cognitive Functions had no significant influence on work ability in either group. In older adults, Physical Fitness correlated with Cognitive Functions, whereas in middle-aged adults, Cognitive Functions marginally correlated with Social Life.

Here is a free resource from NWI that allows you to reflect on your own dimensions.